They say you should never miss a Sunday show, and while I wholeheartedly agree that you should miss as little Phish as possible, I think in recent years I’ve come to realize that Friday has been delivering at an equally high level as the Lord’s Day. I’d say we should leave Tuesday out of this just in case anyone reading decides to start going to weekday Phish shows when they should be at work or school or whatever. Come to think of it, seems to me that this band plays pretty darn well on any day that ends in "day." Feel free to click the links above to make the determination for yourself. Can there really be only one and where does that leave us anyway? In a relatively-old-school, all-blue, wooden-ceilinged venue just outside of Chicago on Friday 10/26/18 it would seem.

Would Phish continue the T.G.I.F. trend by delivering an all-out banger? Would Phish’s first run of indoor Chicago shows in seven years be enough of a spark to blow the whole fireworks factory sky high? Would it be one of those shows that satisfies the whole fan base, from the rail riders who waited all day just to give Trey a very special note, to the wooks on the back of the floor who just want to spin and flail with as few impedances as possible?

It seemed the mood was set when the band stepped to the stage greeted by a very enthusiastic roar and Trey cued the band for "PYITE." After a few tweaks by a stage tech, Phish launched into what could quite possibly be the best 3.0 version of the song. I don’t have the time at this juncture to listen to the intro jam of every one since 2009, but last night’s had the kind of extra syncopated staccato groove that you’d be much more likely to find in a version from 1997 than you would in one played any time during this decade.

The band followed this exceptional opening by playing a handful of popular songs, including the very popular song "Reba," which they tackled with confidence. The real star of this set though is the newer classic "Mercury," which was given a rousing performance. The somewhat mystical lyrics seem to resonate with the audience and more and more the song tends to lead to a jam. Last night’s version went about as far as they’ve taken this recent vehicle and you can forgive a ripcord after 18 minutes, especially when Trey is calling up "Moonage Daydream." The first set closed with "Walls of the Cave," hoo-boy what a good time.

Set break gave me some time to reflect on my first experience seeing Phish in Chicago. Let me be honest with you: I’ve been seeing a lot of Phish over the last 5 years (including 74% of the shows since Fare Thee Well), but have been avoiding coming out here based on the numerous negative comments I’ve read about the crowds. While there were some elements of truth to what I might have read, I am happy to report that the audience last night was very appreciative, energetic and engaged. In fact, this was a crowd any band would die to play for. Eat your heart out Coastal Elites!

One thing I will say is that anyone who’s ever complained that Phish audiences are mostly made up of dudes must be from Chicago. Hot damn, you all need to get some wives, girlfriends, sisters or platonic patchwork wearing female friends (it’s okay if you’re secretly in love with them, just please be respectful and don’t keep bringing it up if she’s not down with the clown) and for God’s sake, bring them to the show! A nice guy named Justin did give me a little piece of jasper though and I just happened to be surrounded by New England fam in my rage zone, so that was cool.

There’s nothing quite like a second set “Tweezer” opener to stoke the embers of an already lit crowd and get them burning even brighter. The first “Tweezer” of the tour in Hampton had already set the bar relatively high, but this version surpassed it. Starting with major key jamming, moving into a “Cars Trucks Buses” or “Party Time” flavored New Orleans jam, finding itself in a series of excellent peaks and finally cooling down into a darker rhythmic zone to execute a solid drop into “Golden Age.” This version was noteworthy, not only for the exemplary playing but also for the jam going type II from the first section (“don’t you falter”) and then subtly oozing into the minor jam as opposed to starting the improv from the song’s main riff as per usual. More amazing peaks are scaled and we’re left with as strong a one-two punch as we’ve got all tour.

The playing in the opening pair of songs was already magical enough to bring this show into the solidly above average category, but it was definitely time for the band to take a breather, and thankfully they made a very solid call by easing into the rarely played ballad “Frost.” Seeing as this is the official recap, it’s time we officially state that this song is indeed officially a nod to Jerry. I thought calling this song here was super heady (similar to “Show of Life” after the tiger-cage hell-ride of the Albany “Twenty Years Later”). From here on out the rest of the show was icing on the cake. “Sand” and “Possum” were both high energy and “Limb by Limb” contained some supple playing, but on the whole this second set was structurally more similar to the kind of sets they played earlier in 3.0 where the improvisational meat was served earlier on in the set. Cake and meat, how’s that for mixed metaphors? I always get a kick out of the Phish reference in “Day in the Life” (“having read the book”). How did the Beatles know about Gamehendge back in 1967?

Based on the crowd’s response to the show I’d say the “Wilson” encore was well deserved and after closing the freezer, night one was over. This is one of those shows that you just know is going to be well received by the fan base from practically the first note. The energy was present in the room and the execution was there to match it. Is it the best show of the tour so far? Feel free to let us know in the comments below. Personally I might give the nod to 10/23for its cohesion and seamlessness or to 10/19 for its onslaught of melted Hellraiser vibes, but the crowd-pleasing powerhouse performance on 10/26 would be just as good a choice. But why choose? Personally, I’m not much of a “best” guy, except for one thing that I know for certain: “Phish = best band.”

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Gorge1, Alpharetta1, Raleigh. I'd say Friday made a case for the best of three-show bunches over the summer tour. On relisten I actually think Saturday Hampton was the best of the run. This show was no slouch, so if it ends up being the second- or third-best of the run, then we're all in for a real treat.

Great review!! Really loved your writing. Trey has been doing a great job placing ballads this tour -- Show of Life, Dirt, Bug, Mts of the Mist and this Frost and fortunately not going back to back ballads....

Also, we now need just a quadrophenia and a white album song to complete at least one song from every Halloween album.

Skin it Back isn’t on Waiting for Columbus, so by my estimation they’ve done at least one song by every band they’ve covered on Halloween. That means if we get Drowned this weekend the Braphecy will have come to pass. Then again they might bust out Time Loves a Hero and a White Album tune and then the skies would really open up.

Also, we now need just a quadrophenia and a white album song to complete at least one song from every Halloween album.

Skin it Back isn’t on Waiting for Columbus, so by my estimation they’ve done at least one song by every band they’ve covered on Halloween. That means if we get Drowned this weekend the Braphecy will have come to pass. Then again they might bust out Time Loves a Hero and a White Album tune and then the skies would really open up.

Good call on Skin it Back. So we actually still need a Halloween track from the Who, Little Feat, AND the Beatles.

Well, articulated...
I enjoyed the Tweezer opening II (always my favorite spot in the set (1997/12/06) It's not a sound a hear much from them, this type of tribal sound. I experienced there debut of mind left body at UIC 94. I was imminently aware of the Bowie jam intro going sideways, very familiar and always playing GD 1974 mlbjams on tape at the time. Then oddly enough the last Grateful Dead performance of the MLBJ was 1993/03/10 in Rosemont (very intense Corrina> MLBJ). This is the light tribal percussion I'm speaking of, I remember thinking how odd that they both covered it in Chicago in about a year of another. Wonderful thunderous very much like hearing GDTRFB groove into NFA on that beautiful train, the edge of that sound and energy. This type jamming in this rather nice to hear in Tweezer's free zone outro jam...Building into the intro of Golden Age seems it may be a jam they're playing with. Whatever it is, I love it! Snuck in a few Gems last night TGIF!

Well, articulated thank you...
I enjoyed the Tweezer opening II, a longtime favorite spot in the set (the reason most likely why is 1997/12/06). As Tweezer leveled out it was nice to be surprised by a sound I haven't hear much from them, this type of lightly almost tribal sound? It brought me to an experience, their debut of mind left the body at UIC 94. I was immediately aware of the Bowie jam intro going sideways, very lucky to be present at that wonderful Bowie moment, very familiar and always playing GD 1974 mlbjams on tape at the time. Then oddly enough the last Grateful Dead performance of the MLBJ was 1993/03/10 in Rosemont (very intense Corrina> MLBJ). This is the light train rollin' sound I'm speaking of. I remember thinking how odd that they both covered it in Chicago, in about a year of another. Wonderful thunderous very much like hearing GDTRFB groove into NFA on that beautiful train, the edge of that sound and energy. This type jamming in this rather nice to hear in Tweezer's free zone outro jam...Building into the intro of Golden Age seems it may be a jam they're playing with. Whatever it is, I love it! Snuck in a few Gems last night TGIF!

[b]Well, articulated...
I enjoyed the Tweezer opening II (always my favorite spot in the set (1997/12/06) It's not a sound a hear much from them, this type of tribal sound. I experienced their debut of mind left the body at UIC 94. I was imminently aware of the Bowie jam intro going sideways, very familiar and always playing GD 1974 mlbjams on tape at the time. Then oddly enough the last Grateful Dead performance of the MLBJ was 1993/03/10 in Rosemont (very intense Corrina> MLBJ). This is the light tribal percussion I'm speaking of, I remember thinking how odd that they both covered it in Chicago in about a year of another. Wonderful thunderous very much like hearing GDTRFB groove into NFA on that beautiful train, the edge of that sound and energy. This type jamming in this rather nice to hear in Tweezer's free zone outro jam...Building into the intro of Golden Age seems it may be a jam they're playing with. Whatever it is, I love it! Snuck in a few Gems last night TGIF!

Also, we now need just a quadrophenia and a white album song to complete at least one song from every Halloween album.

Skin it Back isn’t on Waiting for Columbus, so by my estimation they’ve done at least one song by every band they’ve covered on Halloween. That means if we get Drowned this weekend the Braphecy will have come to pass. Then again they might bust out Time Loves a Hero and a White Album tune and then the skies would really open up.

Loved your review. My one question is where does Frost being an official tribute to Jer come from? Like a lot of Phish songs, this one seems able to be interpreted in a number of different ways - sure, the emotional resonance is there, but other than that I don't really hear any strong references to Jerry...is he the Pawn or the Minstrel? Is Jerry's message really lost? Interested to hear other folks' thoughts (idf anyone reads this comment a whole 5 days after the show...) Regardless, great review, great show, see you in freakin' VEGAS!!

the mistress of the dawn strides along
with her solitary pawn who lingers on then is gone
with no word and no one heard where he went to this day
maybe he would sail away

the children of the sun having fun
didn't realize they were done because the pawn chanced to wander
through the camp just like a tramp he left his stamp there to this day
maybe he would sail away

gone are silent summer rains
wind is rolling off the plains
bringing ice upon the breeze
making flowing water freeze

the minstrel of the land made a stand in a castle built of sand
watched it fall in the frost and the message was lost
with one last word to deliver under ice upon the river it lies frozen to this day
maybe he would sail away

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